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My Smoker went up in a Blaze of Glory... Need recommendations/ideas on new build.

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defiant1

defiant1

Newbie
Original poster
Jul 18, 2016
20
10
So, Turkey Day did not go as planned. Lost a smoker, but still have the house and all family members intact. So all in all a good end of day result. Not sure of cause, but assume a faulty regulator (I opened up the regulator the next day and found the diaphragm was damaged, which more than likely led to a flame out condition when I went to increase the smoker temp). When the propane ignited it split the cabinet at the seams (bowed out) and pushed the doors open. I had it running 4 hours prior with no issues, added a couple chunks of wood and turned up the heat to get ready for the turkey. Went inside for 5-10 minutes, came back out and it was definitely not how I left it.

At any rate, before I start on building a new one, need some ideas on the most recommended build based on cost, ease of use, safety, size, efficiency, etc.

Any practical experience and advice is appreciated.

d1
 
Last edited:
WOWzers, Glad nobody was hurt. Good luck in your next build. Good to see your getting wright back on the horse.

Chris
 
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You are lucky..... A flame-out sensor probably would have prevented that...


Man killed when meat smoker explodes


Colleen Kottke, The (Fond du Lac, Wis.) Reporter 4:49 p.m. EST December 15, 2014

(Photo: The (Fond du Lac, Wis.) Reporter)

TOWN of LAMARTINE, Wis. — A Wisconsin man using a homemade meat smoker to cook turkeys and chickens died when the smoker exploded, police said.

Richard L. Zabel, 55, was found dead Saturday afternoon inside a machine shed.

"The North Fond du Lac Ambulance and Lamartine first responders were called to the scene for the initial report that someone had fallen," said Lt. Cameron McGee of the Fond du Lac County Sheriff's Office. "When investigators arrived on scene, they discovered that a 55-year-old man was dead inside the building."

Zabel, a town of Lamartine man, did not live at the building's location, but lived nearby.

"Evidence indicates that the flame on the LP burner went out and as a result the gas continued to accumulate inside the smoker," McGee said. "And when (Zabel) went to relight the burner, the spark from the lighter caused the gas to explode."

McGee said the force of the explosion caused the heavy duty door of the smoker to blow open, striking Zabel in the head, killing him instantly.

"When something explodes, it's going to blow open at the weakest point which was the door, which was triple-latched," McGee said.

McGee said the smoker was larger and better constructed than most store-bought models.

"It was about 4-feet tall and about 3-feet wide and built really solid, including the door. Someone really put a lot of thought into building this thing," McGee said. "We were told that they had been using it for the past three years without any problems."

The Fond du Lac County Sheriff's Office is investigating the incident.
 
halfsmoked said:
Don't think flame out was the problem Here Dave amy not of happen if flame was out out.

Warren
Click to expand...

Halfsmoked... Morning.... Flame out sensor.... When it does not stay hot, it turns off the propane..... If you don't have a flame-out sensor, the smoker fills with propane... Because it's heavier than air, it fills from the bottom up... when it reaches the hot chip pan, or smoldering embers in the chip pan, it ignites and blows like a bomb...
It's a well documented situation... That's why they make them.... They have them on propane water heaters...
It's not the flame that causes the problem... It's NOT having a flame that causes the problem...
Hope that makes sense...
 
halfsmoked said:
Don't think flame out was the problem Here Dave amy not of happen if flame was out out.

Warren
Click to expand...

I'm gonna surmise the "Smoker situation"....
I have seen smokers that could not "handle" the amount of heat and smoke generated by the burner.... Probably due to lack of adequate exhaust and possible lack of air intake...
Lack of exhaust causes the smoker to fill with smoke and "used up air" from the burner.. air low in oxygen from the combustion process.. as the smoker fills, from the top down, with this "used up air and smoke" and it then reaches the inlet venturi to the burner.... Lack of oxygen causes the flame on the burner to extinguish... The propane is still flowing...
Lack of air intake causes a "low" flame... easy to have it go out...
One easy remedy is have the venturi OUTSIDE the smoker... fresh air supply is in abundance...
 
I think this is the last addendum....

When the flame goes out, the smoker still being warm, has a natural draft... sucking the unburned propane toward the exhaust... That's where the propane comes in contact with the hot pan or coals...
 
chesapeakesmoke said:
Wow I thought I had a bad thanksgiving when my dining room table broke in half while inserting the leaf. Glad everyone is ok, I assume the next smoker wont be propane?
Click to expand...

Possibly. I am really looking for ideas on the new build. This thread has turned into a "CSI" event on what happened to the old smoker.
 
defiant1 said:
Possibly. I am really looking for ideas on the new build. This thread has turned into a "CSI" event on what happened to the old smoker.
Click to expand...

Without understanding what happened, how can you build a new smoker....

Anyhow, I apologize for trying to help you out.... Won't happen again... Promise.... Dave
 
daveomak said:
Without understanding what happened, how can you build a new smoker....

Anyhow, I apologize for trying to help you out.... Won't happen again... Promise.... Dave
Click to expand...

No worries. Not sure why you are taking it personal. I have a good idea on what happened and how to prevent it in the future build. That is not why I started this thread.

Good day to you sir.

d1
 
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